Sociology

Program Options

Program Overview

Sociology is the systematic and empirically-based study of human social interaction ranging from the most simple exchanges between people to complex, multi-layered and multi-scaled global processes and structures. It also examines the central place of language, a shared and dynamic set of symbols and meanings, in human lives. Students learn both about the worlds in which they and others live and how to understand and explain how these worlds work and sometimes do not. And they consider, based on these understandings, what sorts of interventions, through policy or practice, might serve to change aspects of those worlds for the better for those living in them. The department offers students literacy and training in multiple theories and methods of social inquiry, giving special attention to qualitative and historical analysis.

Students in the program enjoy frequent collaboration with the Des Moines community through research assignments, service learning, and internships. Recent graduates have gone to graduate school in social work, business, law, paralegal studies, sociology, criminology, and anthropology. They also have found jobs in government agencies, businesses, and social service organizations according to their interests and past experiences.

B.A. Degree Requirements

The sociology major offers sound preparation for careers in law and public administration, medicine and public health, activism, social work, advertising and marketing, politics and public policy, business, banking, and consulting, to name just a few. The various courses in the sociology program examine social groups and processes in a wide diversity of contexts, with an emphasis on critical thinking and social justice.

The program has flexibility built into the core course requirements and allows anthropology and rhetoric courses to contribute to the curriculum for majors. Students are encouraged to work with their advisers to assure selection of courses compatible with their educational and career objectives.

Required Courses

Credits

SCSS 001 - Survey of Sociology (Entry level course and prerequisite for most other courses. An introduction to the field.)

3

SCSS 042 - Sociological Inquiry (Sociological Inquiry is offered once a year as a bridge course between Survey and other courses. Students are encouraged to take this course the first time it is offered after they complete SCSS 001.)

3

Choose two theory-intensive courses from:

SCS 110 - Culture, Knowledge, Power

3

SCSA 081 - Borders and Boundaries

3

SCSA 101 - Feminist Anthropology

3

SCSA 125 - Anthropological Theory

3

SCSS 070 - Psyche/Self/Society

3

SCSS 080 - Social Problems

3

SCSS 085 - Sociology of Everyday Life

3

SCSS 130 - Contemporary Chinese Society

3

SCSS 133 - Social Structure/Social Change

3

SCSS 135 - Science and Society

3

SCSS 170 - Deviance

3

SCSS 173 - Global Citizenship

3

SCSS 174 - Feminist Theories of Subjectivity

3

SCSS 175 - Social Stratification

4

SCSS 176 - Documenting Lives

3

SCSS 178 - Gender, Technology, & Embodiment

3

Choose one research design course from:

SCSA 078 - The Practice of Oral History

3

SCSA 153 - Documentary Video Challenge

3

SCSA 156 - Ethnographic Methods

3

SCSS 077 - The Art of the Interview

3

SCSS 150 - Women and Work

3

SCSS 155 - Global Youth Studies

3

SCSS 156 - Representing Race

3

SCSS 157 - Sociology of the Sixties

3

SCSS 158 - Social Science Statistics

3

SCSS 159 - Methods of Social Research

3

STAT 050 - Statistics for Social Sciences

3

Choose one community-engaged learning course. May not be double-counted as research-design or theory-intensive. Choose from:

SCSA 078 - The Practice of Oral History

3

SCSA 153 - Documentary Video Challenge

3

SCSS 020 - Intro to Race & Ethnicity

3

SCSS 075 - Intro to Women's and Gender Studies

3

SCSS 076 - Sociology of Childhood

3

SCSS 077 - Art of the Interview

3

SCSS 146 - Restorative Justice

3

SCSS 156 - Representing Race

3

SCSS 173 - Global Citizenship

3

SCSS 175 - Social Stratification

4

SCSS 179 - Sociology of Education

3

SCSS 196 - Sustainability and Social Justice on the Gulf Coast

3

SCSS 196 - Contemporary Urban Mexico

3

SCSS 199 - Senior Capstone Seminar (Offered each semester. To be taken in final year of major. Students should take all theory and research design courses before enrolling in capstone course.)

3

Choose five additional five elective courses in sociology.

15

TOTAL

36

Up to 6 hours of anthropology or rhetoric (SCSR) courses may count towards this major. Anthropology courses taken to fulfill the theory intensive or research design requirements above for sociology are not counted as part of those 6 hours. That is, you still have the 6 hours allowance for anthropology beyond those hours.

For SCSS and RMSC double majors: No more than nine hours may be counted towards both SCSS and RMSC and you must do a distinct capstone for each major.

A maximum of 9 hours of transfer credit allowed in the sociology major. Transfer courses may not be used to fulfill the theory-intensive, research design, community engaged, or capstone requirements.

Students who wish to count Drake courses as electives from related areas outside of SCS programs (no more than 3 credits) must petition the department and their advisor. To receive approval for the major, a non-SCS course must use or examine a method, theory, or substantive problem of historical importance and/or complementary to sociology.

To graduate with a sociology major, students must earn a grade of "C" or higher in each core course. SCSS majors may not earn a major in ANSO.

Sociology Minor

Required Courses

Credits

SCSS 001 - Survey of Sociology

3

SCSS 042 - Sociological Inquiry

3

Choose four additional courses in sociology.

12

TOTAL

18

A maximum of 6 hours in anthropology (SCSA) or rhetoric (SCSR) courses may be used for the sociology minor. No more than 9 hours of transfer credit are allowed.

Students who wish to count courses as electives from related areas outside of SCS programs (no more than 3 credits) must petition their advisor and the department. To receive approval for the major, a non-SCS course must use or examine a method, theory, or substantive problem of historical importance and/or complementary to sociology.